Even online poker players can agree that this has been a very entertaining first half to the MLB season, and it’s gearing up to be a second half that should have you on the edge of your seats. Here is a look at the top five storylines during the first half of the year. Boston’s Early Slump The Red Sox were five games out of first place in the American League East on April 30th, but they were tied a month later and now have a one-game lead. Adrian Gonzalez has been key to their ascent up the MLB standings, while Josh Beckett is fully healthy and forms a dangerous one-two pitching punch with Jon Lester. The Red Sox are the World Series favorites for a reason, and Carl Crawford hasn’t even played well yet this season. Cleveland/Pittsburgh The Indians have slowed down a bit, but they’re still a half-game behind Detroit in the American League Central, while the Pirates are one game behind Milwaukee and St. Louis in the National League Central. The Pirates have to be the bigger surprise as they’ve been the laughingstock of the majors for the last 20 years, but the Indians have a better sports betting chance to stay in the race as the National League Central is much better than its American League counterpart. Jose Bautista Many scoffed when Toronto gave Bautista a $65 million deal after last year’s 54-homer outburst, saying that it was a fluke season. Now, Bautista has 31 homers to lead the majors and set the record for All-Star voting, and he is showing no signs of slowing down. Some WWE fans can relate to accusations of steroids when it comes to Bautista, but with today’s stringent testing, it’s unlikely that the slugger is on anything. St. Louis Without Albert Pujols and Adam Wainwright The Cardinals’ slugger wasn’t even having a great season before he went on the disabled list with a wrist injury, and you could argue that St. Louis staying in the race with their problems. Pujols was coming around before he got hurt, ace Wainwright received Tommy John surgery before the season, and Chris Carpenter hasn’t pitched his best either, although he has been hurt by a lack of run support. If there is an organization in the majors that is run better than St. Louis, we’d love to see it. Close Races It’s going to be a second half of close races as the largest gap between two teams is 3.5 games, which is Philadelphia’s lead over Atlanta in the National League East. One division is tied (the National League Central), and four divisions have a margin of one game or less. That means the race to the playoffs is going to get intense over the next few months, and it’s going to be tougher to make picks in your online sportsbook.
The Indians have slowed down a bit, but they’re still a half-game behind Detroit in the American League Central, while the Pirates are one game behind Milwaukee and St. Louis in the National League Central. The Pirates have to be the bigger surprise as they’ve been the laughingstock of the majors for the last 20 years, but the Indians have a better sports betting chance to stay in the race as the National League Central is much better than its American League counterpart.
